title: Butyrophilin-like 1 encodes an enterocyte protein that selectively regulates functional interactions with T lymphocytes.
abstract: Although local regulation of T-cell responses by epithelial cells is increasingly viewed as important, few molecules mediating such regulation have been identified. Skint1, a recently identified member of the Ig-supergene family expressed by thymic epithelial cells and keratinocytes, specifies the murine epidermal intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) repertoire. Investigating whether Skint1-related molecules might regulate IEL in other compartments, this study focuses on buytrophilin-like 1 (Btnl1), which is conspicuously similar to Skint1 and primarily restricted to small intestinal epithelium. Btnl1 protein is mostly cytoplasmic, but surface expression can be induced, and in vivo Btnl1 can be detected adjacent to the IEL. In a newly developed culture system, enforced epithelial cell expression of Btnl1 attenuated the cells' response to activated IEL, as evidenced by suppression of IL-6 and other inflammatory mediators. These findings offer a unique perspective on emerging genetic data that Btnl genes may comprise novel and important local regulators of gut inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, King's College School of Medicine, Borough Wing, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bas
authors.forename: Mahima
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abeler-Dörner
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Dick J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Susannah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Barbee
authors.forename: Adrian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hayday
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000071797:Butyrophilins; D002450:Cell Communication; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D021381:Protein Transport; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C558164:Btnl1 protein, mouse; D000071797:Butyrophilins; D016207:Cytokines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins